Gary vs Foster

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Gary

Boy #1,133 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"spear ruler"

Origin: Germanic

American English Irish

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Gary' can be twisted to 'scary'"}

Boy #1,077 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"forest keeper, forester"

Origin: Old English

English American

✓ All Clear

Gary Rank #1,133

Foster Rank #1,077

Foster is more popular, ranked #1077 vs #1133 for Gary.

Is Gary or Foster more popular?

Foster is more popular, ranked #1077 compared to Gary at #1133 in the United States.

What do Gary and Foster mean?

Gary means "spear ruler" (Germanic origin). Foster means "forest keeper, forester" (Old English origin).

Are Gary and Foster boy or girl names?

Gary is primarily a boy name. Foster is primarily a boy name.